Below is a very simplistic explanation of Basic Strategy – when to Hit, Stand, Split, and Double, depending on the cards you are dealt and the Dealer’s Upcard.

What to do when playing a Soft Hand:

• When your hand is an Ace/2 or Ace/3 and the Dealer’s Upcard is not a 5 or 6, you should Hit.
• When your hand is an Ace/2 or Ace/3 and the Dealer’s Upcard is a 5 or 6, you should Double.
• When your hand is an Ace/3 or Ace/4 and the Dealer’s Upcard is not a 4, 5, or 6, you should Hit.
• When your hand is an Ace/3 or Ace/4 and the Dealer’s Upcard is a 4, 5, or 6, you should Double.
• When your hand is an Ace/6 and the Dealer’s Upcard is not a 3, 4, 5, or 6, you should Hit.
• When your hand is an Ace/6 and the Dealer’s Upcard is a 3, 4, 5, or 6, you should Double.
• When your hand is an Ace/7 and the Dealer’s Upcard is a 2, 7, or 8, you should Stand.
• When your hand is an Ace/7 and the Dealer’s Upcard is a 3, 4, 5, or 6, you should Double.
• When your hand is an Ace/7 and the Dealer’s Upcard is a 9, 10, Face Card, or Ace, you should Hit.
• When your hand is an Ace/8, you should Stand.
• When your hand is an Ace/9, you should Stand.

What to do when playing a Hard Hand:

• When your hand is a total of 8 or less, you should Hit irregardless of what the Dealer’s Upcard is.
• When your hand is a total of 9 and the Dealer’s Upcard is not a 3, 4, 5, or 6, you should Hit.
• When your hand is a total of 9 and the Dealer’s Upcard is a 3, 4, 5, or 6 , you should Double.
• When your hand is a total of 10 and the Dealer’s Upcard is not a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, you should Hit.
• When your hand is a total of 10 and the Dealer’s Upcard is a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, you should Double.
• When your hand is a total of 11 and the Dealer’s Upcard is a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, you should Double.
• When your hand is a total of 11 and the Dealer’s Upcard is an Ace, you should Hit.
• When your hand is a total of 12 and the Dealer’s Upcard is a 2 or 3, you should Hit.
• When your hand is a total of 12 and the Dealer’s Upcard is a 4, 5, or 6, you should Stand.
• When your hand is a total of 12 and the Dealer’s Upcard is an Ace, 7, 8, 9, 10, or Face Card, you should Hit.
• When your hand is a total score of 13, 14, 15, or 16 and the Dealer’s Upcard is not a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, you should Hit.
• When your hand is a total score of 13, 14, 15, or 16 and the Dealer’s Upcard is a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, you should Stand.
• When your hand is a total score of 17, 18, 19, 20, or 21, you should always Stand.

What to do when playing a Pair:

• When your hand consists of a pair of Aces or 8s, you should always Split.
• When your hand consists of a pair of 2s or 3s and the Dealer’s Upcard is not a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, you should Hit.
• When your hand consists of a pair of 2s or 3s and the Dealer’s Upcard is a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, you should Split.
• When your hand consists of a pair of 4s and the Dealer’s Upcard is not a 5 or 6, you should Hit.
• When your hand consists of a pair of 4s and the Dealer’s Upcard is a 5 or 6, you should Hit.
• When your hand consists of a pair of 5s and the Dealer’s Upcard is not a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, you should Hit.
• When your hand consists of a pair of 5s and the Dealer’s Upcard is a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9, you should Double.
• When your hand consists of a pair of 6s and the Dealer’s Upcard is not a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, you should Hit.
• When your hand consists of a pair of 6s and the Dealer’s Upcard is a 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, you should Split.
• When your hand consists of a pair of 7s and the Dealer’s Upcard is not a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, you should Hit.
• When your hand consists of a pair of 7s and the Dealer’s Upcard is a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, you should Split.
• When your hand consists of a pair of 9s and the Dealer’s Upcard is a 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, or 9, you should Split.
• When your hand consists of a pair of 9s and the Dealer’s Upcard is a 7, 10, Face Card, or Ace, you should Stand.
• When your hand consists of a pair of 10s, you should Stand.

We prepared a Basic Strategy Blackjack Chart that visually explains our explanations on Basic Blackjack Strategy; see below.

Basic Blackjack Strategy Chart